Press-forging apparatus



y 1950 c. A. BRAUCHLER 2,513,710

PRESS FORGING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1945 8 Sheet's-Sheet 1 tg. I I 3nventor C/zaPZes 14. BPaLZC/llep July 4, 1950 c. A. BRAUCHLER 2,513,710

PRESS FORGING APPARATUS W M a ttornegs July 4, 1950 c. A. BRA UCHLER 2,513,710

PRESS FORGING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1945 4 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Bummer BB Charles fl. Bfitluc'kleh Gttomegs July 4, 1950 c. A. BRAUCHLER 2,513,710

PRESS FORGING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20. 1945 a Sheets-Sheet 4 Zmnentor Bu Charles 14. BPQUChZBP i wa ttotneg:

y 1950 c. A. BRAUCHLER 2,513,710

PRESS FORGING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1945 8 Sheet.s$heec 5 IIIIIIIIIIIIN 'I'IIIII 3nventor (Ittornegs July 4, 1950 c. A. BRAUCHLER PRESS FORGING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 20, 1945 [Hill lllllll v I'mnentor Charles A. Bra UCIZZfiP ttornegs July 4,

C. A. BRAUCHLER PRESS FORGING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 IIIHIIIII I I I I I III |||l lllilllllllll I Fig. 7

I I HJIIHHII I llgju 3 nventor (lttornegs y 1950 c. A. BRAUCHLER 2,513,710

PRESS FORGING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1945 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Bnnentor By Charles Bflauckkr gm %ttornegs Patented July 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESS FORGING APPARATUS Charles A. Brauchler, Canton, Ohio Application January 20, 1945,"Serial-No-. 573,711 7 Claims. '(CI. 78-18) The invention relates to apparatus for press forging substantially large, heavy forgingsgsuch as airplane propeller hubs, airplane enginecylinder heads and other articles having'a plurality of angular protub'erances or angular recessed portions, and the present invention contemplates certain improvements upon the apparatus disclosed in my prior Patents No. 2,378,060 dated June 12, 1945, and No. 2,424,075-d'atedJuly 15,

My prior applications above referred to relate to the press forging of articles having a plurality of angular recesses or protuberances whichare pierced during the forging operation, but such machines were so constructed that theycould only form and pierce the particular article for which they were made-and if any change was desired in the angularity of the-recessed portions this would require a machine built especially .to form and pierce at such angles.

Such machines were provided with a plurality of angularly disposed rams or plungers, operated as by hydraulic cylinders, for forming -a forging with angular protuberances thereon and piercing or recessing the same in a series of continuous steps in a die, but the hydraulic cylinders were permanently located at the desired angles for forming and piercing one design of article and could not be relatively moved for producing a similar article with recessed portions or protuberances at other angles.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce a universal forging apparatus having a plurality of power operated rams or plungers arranged tobe a-djustably mounted at various angles so as to produce forgin'gs 'having recesses or pierced protuberances located at any desired angles.

Another object is'to provide apparatus cums character including a vertically operating, over.

head plunger and a pluralityof horizontally operating, radially disposed plungersand means for adjusting'the horizontally operating plungers at any desired angles relative toeach other.

A further object is to provide .apparatus of this character in which the radially disposed, horizontally operating plungers are mounted in -circular guideways in the base plate and cap plate of the machine. I

Still another object is the provision ofapparatus of this character in which the horizontally operating plungers are carried upon independent, .arcuate side members'havingkeyways to receive keys by means of which they are independently, adjustably mounted in the circular grooves of the bed plate and'oap plate of the machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character in whic'h means is provided for holding the -hori-zontally-.--

2 operatingtcylinders .in radially adjusted positions.

'A.-further. object,is the provision of apparatus of thetchar'acter referred to in which the Various :parts area-keyed together so as to withstand the extreme :pressure to which the parts are subjected whenthe hydraulic cylinders-are operated.

Another object is to provide a press forging apparatus of ;.this character in which spacer means. iscprovided for. holding the several 'horizontal cylinders.v in adjusted :position.

.Still...another object ,of the invention is the provisionqofxsuch.forging apparatus in which the spacerimeans for,holding the cylinders in adjusted .positionfis in .the ;f orm of screw jacks arranged to be locatedbetween adjacent cylinders. v

.The above-objects together "with others which will.be...apparent from the drawings and follow- 'ing description,or which may be later referred to,;jmay ;be ,attainedby. constructing the improved press forging apparatus in the manner illustrated in the-accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure. 1;.is1a side elevation of a universal press forging :a-pparatus .constructed in accordance with the invention;

..'Fig..::2.-is a verticalsectional view through the machine awithgthe;, pistons of the h draulic cylinders withdrawn and .the plungers and die blocks :removedxior the-:purpose of illustration;

.Fig.-:3 aeplanzsectional view through the ma= chine-in :the'same condition :as in Fig. .2;

.Fig. .4 azverti'calxsectional view similar to Fig. 2ewitlnthe.dieiblocks mounted in theimachine in closed .{position aandthe plungers in operated position ior'zforming andpiercinga four blade propeller :hub;

vliig...5.. a .plana sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing :the parts .in the position shown in Fig. 4;

..Eig.:.6. an zenlargedelevation of the outer side of .oner'of the adjustable side memberscarrying one ofthe horizontally operating cylinders;

:Fig. 7 asimilar view of the inner side of the side member shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8a top plan view of one of the side members shown inFigs. .6 and '7 Fig. 9 a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the upper portion of one of the side members and cylinders, and

Fig. .10 a perspective view on'asmaller-scale of a'four' blade'propeller "hub forging such as maybe formed in the apparatus.

The improved "press forging apparatus is mounted upon the bed plate 11, which may be square as shown inthe drawings and'which is of *suflicient thickness to support the massive structure comprising the ..forging apparatus.

A :circular groove 1.2 ;of .inver,ted, T.-shape cross saction;is:concentricallyzformediinv the top surface 3 of the lower bed plate II near its outer edge and the concentric inner and outer grooves I3 and I4 respectively are formed in said top surface of the bed plate on the inner and outer sides of the T-shape groove I2.

A cutout I5 is formed at one point in the T- shape groove I2 for inserting the keys by means a of which the structure is locked together as will be later explained.

A riser plate It is concentrically mounted the bed plate I I and a pillow block IT is centrally mounted on the riser plate, the pillow block and r riser plate being fastened upon the bed plate by means of pins I8.

Mounted upon the bed plate I I, by means of the I-shape keys I9, as will be later explained, is a plurality of vertical sid members 20, any desired number of these'members being provided, depending'upon the shape of the forging to be produced. In the presentcase, four of these side members are provided for piercing the four bosses -ing1y shaped grooves 52 and ribs 53 upon the under side of the cap plate 4 I.

The cylinder 48 has a central bore 54, within which may be mounted a brass liner 55, within which is mounted the piston 56 having rings 51 in its enlarged portion slidably fitting within the f liner 55.

2| upon a four blade propeller hubforging indicated generally at 22.

Each of the side members 20 is of arcuate shape,

as best shown in Fig. 8 and is provided in its lower edge withan arcuate, T-shape groove 23,

registering with the inverted T-shape circular groove I2 on the base plate I I, and arranged to be attached thereto by means of the I-shape keys I9 which have a snug sliding fit within both grooves as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. q

Depending arcuate ribs 24 and 25 are formed upon the under side of each member 20 and fit within the circular grooves I3 and I4 respectively in the base plate. Each of the members 20 is nected to the-end of the cylinder as bythe screws.

or bolts 30. The elongated, cylindrical portion 3| of the ring 29 surrounds the reduced portion 32 of the piston 33 and may be recessed to receive packing material 34, the gland 35 .being located within the stuffin'g box thus formed and held in .50 The enlarged portion 33 of the piston is. slidably j mounted within the liner 23, and the usual piston place asby-screws 36, connected .to the ring 29. :1

rings 31 may be provided thereon. Fluid under pressure is admitted to the outerend of each cylinder, as by the pipe 38 which communicates with the central bore 39 in the dome 26, and for the purpose of reversing the movement of thepiston, fluid pipes may be connected to the passages 48 which communicate with the inner end of each cylinder as indicated in-Fig. 3.

'A circular cap plate 4| rests 'upon' the-upper ends of the side members 20 and has the concentric inner and outer circular grooves 42 and 43' respectively formed in its under surface-which receive the arcuate inner and outer ribs and 45 respectively, formed upon the upper ends of the side members 20. v

The cap plate M has a circular groove 46, of T-shape cross section formed inits under-side, between the circular grooves 42 and 43, and each of the side members 20 has an inverted T-shape groove 47 formed in its, upper edge to registerwith the'circular groove 45. I-shape keys I911,

similar to the keys I9,"are'locate'd in the: grooves.

.35 domed upon its outer side, as indicated at 28, to

A ring 58 is mounted in the open lower end of the cylinderand connected thereto as by the bolts 59. The elongated cylindrical portion 60 of the ring 58 surrounds the reduced portion 6| of the piston 56 and may be recessed to receive packing material 62, the gland I53 being located withinthe stuffing box thus formed and held in place asby the screws 64.

Fluid under pressure is admitted to the upper end of the cylinder 48 as by the flanged pipe which communicates with the central bore 65 in the cylinder, and for the purpose of reversing the movement of the piston, a fluid pipe may be connected to the passage 67 which communicates with the inner end of the cylinder as indicated in Fig. 2.

Astationary die block 68 may be fixed upon the pillow block I! and cooperates with the movable die block 69 carried by the piston BI of the upper cylinder 48, said die blocks having complementary die cavities I0 to form a propeller hub, or any other desired forging having a plurality of angular, pierced protuberances or recesses.

A plunger I I, of any desired and suitable shape, is attached to the reduced end 32 of each piston 33 as by the flange I2 and bolts or screws I3, these plungers being shaped to enter the angular passages T4 of the die cavity which form the protuberances ZI upon the forging 22 and to pierce the same as indicated at I5.

It will of course be understood that the die blocks 68 and 69 and the plunger 'II are removable sothatthe proper die and plungers may be attached to the apparatus for forming any desired forging.

Since each of the side members 20, carrying the horizontally operating cylinders 26, is independently circumferentially adjustable to any desired or necessary position within a complete circle, itwill be obvious that any adjustment of the apparatusv may be obtained for producing any shape of forging having two, three, or four angular pierced protuberances or recesses so that various stylesand shapes of propeller hubs having two, three, or four blade propellers and variouss'tyles of cylinder heads with rocker boxes locatedat any desired angle may be formed and pierced in a single complete operation of the machine. V

In operating the apparatus to produce a forging of this charactenas'suming that it is desired to forge a propeller hub for a four blade propeller,

of the general type indicated in Fig. 10, the four side. members 20 are circumferentially adjusted between the base plate II and cap plate 4| to exactly apart, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Although it may not be necessary in all cases, as 'aprecaution against any circumferential displacement of the side members 20 when the apparatus is in operation, spacer means may be provided'for rigidly holding the side members accurately in adjusted position.

This: spacer means may comprise any suitable spacer blocks or the like of exactly the proper length to accurately fit between adjacent side members 20, and these spacers are preferably in the form of screw jacks as indicated generally at 16 in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings.

Each jack may comprise an internally threaded tube H. and a screw 78 threaded therein and provided with a locking nut 19 adapted to be tightened against the adjacent. end of the tube 1'! to lock the jack in adjusted position.

The tube member 1! of the jack may if desired be fixed to one side of the side members 20 by any usual and ordinary means, or as shown in the drawing the outer end of the tube may be shaped as at 80 so as to fit against the angular side edge of the side member.

The screw 18 of the jack may be provided with a sharpened end as indicated at 8| to engage the opposed side edge of the next adjacent side member 20, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, in order to assist in holding the jack against movement between the two spaced side members and to positively hold the side members in accurately adjusted position during the operation of the press.

The desired stationary die block (58 is then attached to the pillow block ll as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, with the angular passages 14 of the die cavity 1i] thereof aligned with the pistons 33 of the cylinders 26, as best shown in Fig. 5.

The corresponding movable die block 69 is then attached to the piston 56 of the upper cylinder 48, in such position that the die cavity 10 thereof mates with the die cavity of the stationary die block and the angular passages M therein register with the angular passages M in the die cavity of the lower die block, as best shown in Fig. 4.

A blank of aluminum alloy, or other metal, of approximately the exact weight of the forging to be produced, is heated to forging temperature and placed in the cavity 10 of the lower die block 68. This blank may be a cast blank, or roll bar stock somewhat approximating the desired finished shape of the forging to be produced.

The upper piston 56 is then operated to lower the upper or movable die 69 into contact with the lower or stationary die 58, squeezing the hot metal blank under extreme continuous pressure in one operation, causing the metal to fill the die cavities producing the general contour of the propeller hub 2| with the partially formed extruded bosses 22 located within the angular passages 14 of the die cavities.

The central posts 68a and 69a in the cavities of the dies 68 and 89 respectively, pierce the hub longitudinally as indicated at 2211, during the closing movement of the dies, with the dies held under pressure in closed position and the posts 68a and 69a holding the blank against lateral movement, the pistons 33 of the cylinders 26 may then be operated in unison, or in succession, or in any desired combination, forcing the plungers H thereon through the angular passages 14 of the die cavities, thereduced piercing portions Ha, upon said plungers piercing the protruding bosses 2| of the propeller hub as indicated at T4 in Figs. 4 and 5 causing the extruded metal to completely fill the angular passages 14 of the die cavities and producing the finished, pierced propeller hub forging shown in Fig. 10 with substantially no flash thereon and of such shape that a minimum of machining isrequired to complete the propeller hub.

'It will be obvious that with the apparatus operated in the manner described and illustrated a complete pressed forging may be producedv therein With a single heating of the metal in a single operation of the apparatus, thus greatly reducing the time and labor required for producing such forgings. i

By making the blank of approximately the exact weight of the finished forging to be produced, the heated metal when deformed between the dies and plungers will flow into every portion of the die cavities completely filling the same and thus practically eliminating the formation of flash at any point on the forging.

By providing a 360 circumferential adjustment of each of the horizontal cylinders. any desired contour of forging with pierced angular protuberances or recesses at various angles may be produced.

It will be apparent. that with any adjustment of the horizontal cylinders around the apparatus there will always be a sufficient opening at at least one point around the apparatus between two of the side members 20 through which the heated blank may be passed to place the same within dies and through which the finished forging may be removed after the press forging operation has been completed.

Since the apparatus is designed to form the finished forging and pierce the same all in a single operation of the dies and plungers, enormous power is required and the hydraulic cylinders which operate the dies and plungers may have a capacity of as greatas 2500 tons.

Although the invention is illustrated and described as operated by hydraulic cylinders, it should be understood that it is not the desire or intention to limit the power means to hydraulic cylinders but any mechanical press means which will-develop the necessary power may be substituted for the hydraulic cylinders without in any manner changing the construction and arrangement of the apparatus and without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for press forging a forging having angular recesses. therein, said apparatus including a bed plate, a stationary die mounted on the bed plate, a vertical cylinder spaced above the bed plate, a ram in said cylinder, a movable die block carried by the ram and cooperating with the stationary die block, there being complementary die cavities in the die blocks, a circularguidew'ay including an inverted T-shapeber, and a radially disposed plunger carried by each cylinder and cooperating with the die blocks.

2. Apparatus for press forging a forging hav ing angular recesses therein, said apparatus including a base plate, a stationary die block 'mounted upon the base plate, a circular guideway on the upper surface of the base plate and including an inverted T-shape groove, a plurality of arcuate side members mounted on said circular guideway and having arcuate T-shape' rooves in their lower ends, I-shapekeys located" in the grooves of the side members and base ing angular recesses therein, said apparatus including a base plate, a stationary die block mounted upon the base plate, a circular guideway on the upper surface of the base plate and including an inverted T-shape groove, a plurality of arcuate sidemembers mounted on said circular guideway and having arcuate T-shape grooves in their lower ends, I-shape keys located in the grooves of the side members and base plate, a cap plate upon said side members, a circular guideway on the under side of the cap plate and including a T-shape groove, there being arcuate, inverted T-shape grooves in the upper ends of the side members, I-shape keys located in the upper grooves of the side members and the cap plate, horizontal cylinders carried by the side members, radially disposed plungers operated by the cylinders, a vertical cylinder mounted upon the cap plate, a ram in said vertical cylinder, and a movable die block carried by the ram.

4. Apparatus for press forging a forging having angular recesses therein, said apparatus including a base plate, a stationary die block mounted upon the base plate, a circular guideway on the upper surface of the base plate and including an inverted T-shape groove, a plurality of arcuate side members mounted on said circular guideway and having arcuate T-shape grooves in their lower ends, I-shape keys located in the rooves of the side members and base plate, a cap plate upon said side members, a circular guideway on the under side of the capplate and including a T-shape groove, there being arcuate, inverted T-shape grooves in the upper ends of the side members, I-shape keys located in the upper grooves of the side members and the cap plate, horizontal cylinders carried by the side members, radially disposed plungers operated by the cylinders, the cap plate having a central opening, circular, concentric ribs and grooves surrounding said opening on the under side of the cap plate, a vertical cylinder located through the central opening of the cap plate, an annular flange at the bottom of the vertical cylinder having concentric, circular ribs and grooves interlocked with the ribs and grooves of the cap plate, a ram in said vertical cylinder and a movable die block carried by the ram.

,5. Apparatus for press forging a forging hav-- ing angular recesses therein, said apparatus including a base plate, a stationary die block mounted upon the base plate, a circular guideway on the upper surface of the base plate and including an inverted T-shape groove, a plurality of arcuate side members mounted on said circular guideway and having arcuate T-shape grooves in their lower ends, I-shape keys located in the grooves of the side members and base plate, a cap plate upon said side members, a circular guideway on the under side of the cap plate and including a T-shape groove, there being arcuate,

inverted T- p g oves n. the pp r ends of the side members, I-shape keys located 'in the upper grooves of the side members and 'the'cap' plate, horizontal cylinders carried by the side members, pistons in said cylinders, plungers removably mounted on the pistons, a vertical cylinder mounted upon the cap plate, a ram in the vertical cylinder, and a movable die block carried by the ram.

6. Apparatus for press forging a forging having angular recesses therein, said apparatus including a bed plate, a stationary die block mounted upon the bed plate, a vertical cylinder spaced above the bed plate, a ram in said cylinder, amovable die block carried by the ram and cooperating with the stationary die block, there being complementary die cavities in said die blocks, a circular, inverted, T-shape guideway in the bed plate surrounding the stationary die block, a plurality ofhorizontal cylinders adjustably mounted upon the bed plate, inverted,

T-shape members carried by the horizontal cylinders and slidably mounted in said guideway, radially disposed plungers carried by said horizontal cylinders and cooperating With the die blocks, and means for adjusting the horizontal cylinders at any point around the circular guideway.

7. Apparatus for press forging a forging having angular recesses therein, said apparatus including a bed plate, a stationary die block mounted upon the bed plate, a circular, inverted T-shape guideway in the bed plate surrounding the stationary die block, a plurality of arcuate side members adjustably mounted upon the bed plate, inverted T-shape members carried by said side members and slidably mounted in said guideway, a cap plate upon said arcuate side members, a circular T-shape guideway in the under side of said cap, T-shape members carried at the upper ends of said arcuate side members and slidably mounted in said T-shape guideway, horizontal radially disposed plungers carriedby said arcuate side members, means for reciprocating the plungers, a vertical ram mounted upon the cap plate, a movable die block carried by said ram, and means for adjusting the positions of the arcuate side members around said circular guideways.

CHARLES A. BRAUCHLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 426,653 Aiken Apr. 29. 1890 691,869 Petch Jan. 28, 1902 720,052 McKibben Feb. 10, 1903 804,542 Loss Nov. 14, 1905 1,835,539 Thomas Dec. 9, 1931 1,946,117 Sparks Feb. 6, 1934 2,021,703 Sparks Nov. 19, 1935 2,246,494 Amiot June 24, 1941' 2,256,740 Gup Sept. 23, 1941 2,289,855 Ralston July 14, 1942 2,302,115 Gazey Nov. 17, 1942 2,303,059 Misfeldt -l Nov. 24, 1942 2,342,021 Swanson Feb. 15, 1944 2,435,849 Schlitters"; Feb. 10, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Jan. 30, 1934, t a 

